Growing Point Location in Corn at Different Growth Stages

he
position of a corn plant's growing point region
is crucial relative to the plant's susceptibility to above-ground damage.
Initially, the growing point is located near the crown of a young seedling.
At about leaf stage V4 (four visible leaf collars), stalk elongation begins
and the position of the growing point elevates rather quickly over a very
few number of leaf stages. This photo gallery illustrates the change in the
position of the growing point relative to the leaf stage of a corn plant.

Click on image to open a larger version.

Very late V1 to early V2 corn plant.

Entire seedling of early V2 plant.

Crown of early V2 plant located about 3/4 inch
below soil surface.

Split stem of early V2 plant, showing growing point
region.

V4 leaf stage.

Growing point location within V4 plant, located
near the top of the stalk tissue, of which internode elongation of the
latter has only just begun.

V6 leaf stage.

Growing point location within V6 plant, though
technically the growing point no longer exists once it completes tassel
initiation at about V5.

V7 leaf stage.

Growing point location within V7 plant, though
technically the growing point no longer exists once it completes tassel
initiation at about V5.

V9 leaf stage.

Growing point location within V9 plant, though
technically the growing point no longer exists once it completes tassel
initiation at about V5.